Caleb Williams will get his first preseason playing time in Johnson's offense when Bears host Bills

LAKE FOREST, Ill. (AP) — Chicago Bears coach Ben Johnson sees the second preseason game as the ideal time to get quarterback Caleb Williams some on-field reps.

Williams will see game action in Johnson’s offense for the first time when the Bears host the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night. Backups Tyson Bagent, Case Keenum and Austin Reed took the snaps in last Sunday’s 24-24 tie against Miami in the preseason opener.

“Our starters are going to play, everyone is going to play,” Johnson said Wednesday. “Last week and really all through camp I’ve been pretty consistent with the thought of reps, reps, reps are the most important thing to get (Williams) up to speed.”

Johnson said he got Williams 80 to 100 practice plays within the offense that he wouldn’t have had if he had played in Sunday's game.

Of course, Williams wasn't facing a live defense trying to sack him.

“This week it’s a different schedule, a different length of time in terms of between games, and all that,” Johnson said. “So our plan right now is the guys that sat out last week they will be playing this week.”

Williams’ play in training camp practices has been inconsistent but Johnson has seen improvement from the second-year QB.

“I’m pleased with how he is able to spit these plays out right now,” Johnson said. “He’s made significant progress in that regard and once we get going here in a game week, we’re going to condense the verbiage even more. But we have challenged him. It’s been a lot.

“That was by design, and so if we struggle at all in the huddle to get the play out, then the delays are going to pop up. That’s a little bit part of the learning process and us growing, but by design we have made this very challenging and hard and we know what we need to do as a staff to elevate some of that pressure. I think Week 1 we’re going to be in a good spot.”

What’s less clear is who will start at left tackle.

Starter Braxton Jones is being challenged by rookie Ozzy Trapilo. However, at Wednesday’s practice, second-year undrafted free agent Theo Benedet alternated with Jones at left tackle with the starters, while Trapilo was the backup right tackle.

Cornerback Jaylon Johnson remains on the non-football injury list, but Ben Johnson sounded more optimistic Wednesday that the two-time Pro Bowl cornerback will be ready for the season opener.

“He’s right on track, he’s right where he need to be,” Johnson said. “It’s really like I said, those type of injuries you really don’t know. Short term, long term, every guy is a little bit different, but I think we’re going in the right direction.”

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/hub/nfl

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams (18) throws during the first half of an NFL preseason football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams watches from the sideline during the second half of an NFL preseason football game against the Miami Dolphins, Sunday, Aug. 10, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Erin Hooley)

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Nikita Kucherov scored the deciding goal in the shootout and the Tampa Bay Lightning beat the Pittsburgh Penguins 2-1 on Tuesday night for their 11th straight win.

J.J. Moser scored in regulation and Andrei Vasilevskiy had 26 saves for the Lightning, who have not lost since a 2-1 defeat at home against Los Angeles on Dec. 18. Three of their wins during the streak have come after regulation.

The Lightning moved into first place in the Atlantic Division, one point ahead of the Detroit Red Wings, who lost 3-0 at Boston. The 11-game win streak matched the longest in franchise history, accomplished previously from Jan. 29 to Feb. 17, 2020.

Evgeni Malkin scored for the Penguins and Arturs Silovs had 30 saves. Pittsburgh lost its third straight (0-2-1) since a six-game win streak.

Gage Goncalves scored for Tampa Bay in the second round of the tiebreaker, and Egor Chinakov tied it for Pittsburgh on their attempt in the third round. Kucherov then won it for the Lightning.

Moser gave the Lightning a 1-0 lead with 5:47 remaining in the third period. Yanni Gourde brought the puck up the right side and put a shot at Silovs that the goalie caught against his pad. However, the puck rolled out and lay in front and Moser skated up and knocked it in.

Malkin tied it with 2:16 left as he fired it past Vasilevskiy from the inside edge of the right circle for his 10th of the season.

The game was scoreless through the first two periods. The Lightning outshot the Penguins 10-8 in the first period that saw the Penguins have two power plays. Each team had nine shots on goal in the second with the Lightning getting two power plays and the Penguins one.

Lightning: At St. Louis on Friday night in the fourth of a five-game homestand.

Penguins: Host Philadelphia on Thursday night in the second of a three-game homestand.

AP NHL: https://www.apnews.com/NHL x

Pittsburgh Penguins' Bryan Rust (17) can't get his stick on the puck in front of Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) with Darren Raddysh (43) defending during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Penguins' Ryan Shea (5) collides with Tampa Bay Lightning's Yanni Gourde (37) in front of Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) smothers the puck before Pittsburgh Penguins' Evgeni Malkin (71) can get his stick on it with Declan Carlile (67) defending during the second period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Tampa Bay Lightning goaltender Andrei Vasilevskiy (88) blocks a shot by Pittsburgh Penguins' Rickard Rakell during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Pittsburgh, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)